NOTICE FROM THE FOUNDATION RECORDS AND INFORMATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

The original documentation of SCP-5997 and all subsequent revisions cannot be deleted, relocated or otherwise obscured due to the presence of DEEPWELL-level digital protections on the file. Please note that SCP-5997 does in fact currently exist, but that the majority of the following data is outdated and no longer applicable to the current state of the anomaly. Nonetheless, all revisions must be viewed to reach the current and accurate documentation. Revisions to text are denoted in blue for ease of reader comprehension. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5997 is considered to be self-containing. The use of SCP-5997 and derivative agents in Foundation operations is to continue according to the standard protocols established prior to its classification as a SCP object. The recently formed EURYDICE-9 mnestics research project is to carry out investigations into the origin and properties of SCP-5997, and monitor its effects on all Foundation personnel known to be following mnestics usage regimens.

All members of the EURYDICE-9 research team are to maintain strict Class X mnestics usage and Marness-Yarrow conditioning regimens at all times.

Description: SCP-5997 is the active ingredient of all Foundation-standard mnestic (memory-improving) drugs. SCP-5997 is an excitatory nootropic agent that markedly improves cognitive function in humans, specifically targeting the brain centers involved in memory retention to create a mnestic effect.

For unknown reasons, any quantity of SCP-5997 displays a Type IV antimemetic trigger (exact means of display is unknown) which induces directed anterograde amnesia, preventing subjects not under the effects of Class X or greater mnestics from consciously perceiving the substance. As a result of all Foundation personnel having been under the effect of SCP-5997, its anomalous properties remained undiscovered for an unknown but likely extensive period of time.

Post-discovery research carried out by the EURYDICE-9 project has confirmed that short-term and long-term use of agents derived from SCP-5997 causes no averse side effects beyond those previously known to the Foundation, and that beyond the antimemetic trigger displayed, SCP-5997 is non-anomalous. As the antimemetic effect triggers on perception rather than human consumption, it does not interfere with the primary use of SCP-5997.

The origin of Foundation supplies of SCP-5997 is not currently known. Further investigations by the EURYDICE-9 research effort are ongoing, as supply of SCP-5997 by an unknown entity outside the Foundation may constitute a severe security breach.

Special Containment Procedures:SCP-5997 is currently thought to be uncontained. The EURYDICE-9 research project is to oversee and coordinate efforts to research, locate, and contain SCP-5997. An automated processing system (APS5997Z24) is to monitor Foundation databases for signs of the effects of SCP-5997 on information, and is to immediately expunge any affected data in order to prevent spread of SCP-5997’s effects. Sensitive data is to be backed up immediately prior to expungement.

All information pertaining to SCP-5997 and SCP-5997-1 is to be heavily encrypted and maintained in secure data storage servers, and several redundant backups are to be similarly encrypted and retained on standby at all times.

The use of SCP-5997-1 in Foundation operations is to continue according to the standard protocols established prior to its classification as a secondary SCP object. The joint EURYDICE-9 mnestics research project is to carry out investigations into SCP-5997-1 and monitor its effects on all Foundation personnel known to be following mnestics usage regimens.

All members of the EURYDICE-9 research team are to maintain strict Class X mnestics usage and Marness-Yarrow conditioning regimens at all times.

Description:SCP-5997 is the provisional designation for an entity or group theorized to be the source of the active ingredient of all Foundation-standard mnestics (previously designated SCP-5997, now redesignated SCP-5997-1).

The existence of SCP-5997 was ascertained following extensive investigations by the EURYDICE-9 research team, which determined that the origin and history of mnestic agents could not be traced, that no record of the method by which they were produced existed, and that all information that could have previously related to any of the mentioned topics was subject to a powerful antimemetic corrosion effect that had irreversibly expunged nearly all relevant data and rendered the remainder unintelligible. The pattern of expungement was consistent with intelligent, deliberate activity, leading EURYDICE-9 researchers to posit the existence of a previously undocumented sapient anomaly with powerful antimemetic properties that had been actively hindering Foundation investigations into SCP-5997-1.

SCP-5997-1 is an excitatory nootropic agent that creates a mnestic (memory-enhancing) effect in humans when administered and, counterintuitively, displays a Type IV antimemetic trigger inducing directed anterograde amnesia. This consequently prevents subjects not under the effects of Class X or greater mnestics from consciously perceiving any quantity of SCP-5997-1. SCP-5997-1 is the active ingredient of all Foundation-standard mnestic drugs, and was not known to be anomalous for a significant period of time due to its antimemetic properties affecting all Foundation personnel. Due to the hypothetical actions of SCP-5997 actively hindering investigations into SCP-5997-1, the two anomalies are believed to have a relation of currently unknown nature.

The origin of Foundation supplies of SCP-5997-1 is not currently known. Further investigations by the EURYDICE-9 project are in progress, and are to be considered a high priority due to the ongoing security breach represented by SCP-5997’s access to Foundation data.

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5997 is currently thought to be uncontained. The EURYDICE-9 research project is to oversee and coordinate efforts to research, locate, and contain SCP-5997. An automated processing system (APS5997Z24) is to monitor Foundation databases for signs of the effects of SCP-5997 on information, and is to immediately expunge any affected data in order to prevent spread of SCP-5997’s effects. Sensitive data is to be backed up immediately prior to expungement.

All information pertaining to SCP-5997 and SCP-5997-1 is to be heavily encrypted and maintained in secure data storage servers, and several redundant backups are to be similarly encrypted and retained on standby at all times.

The use of SCP-5997-1 in Foundation operations is to continue according to the standard protocols established prior to its classification as a secondary SCP object. The joint EURYDICE-9 mnestics research project is to carry out investigations into SCP-5997-1 and monitor its effects on all Foundation personnel known to be following mnestics usage regimens.

All members of the EURYDICE-9 research team are to maintain strict Class X mnestics usage and Marness-Yarrow conditioning regimens at all times.

The occurrence of 5997-DORO events worldwide is to be monitored and documented by the EURYDICE-9 research project. The appearance and travel of SCP-5997-2 instances is also to be recorded. All efforts are to be made to determine the point of origin of SCP-5997-2 instances.

Description: SCP-5997 is the provisional designation for an entity or group theorized to be the source of the active ingredient of all Foundation-standard mnestics, designated SCP-5997-1.

SCP-5997 is presumed to be sapient, and actively hinders Foundation investigations into the origins and properties of SCP-5997-1 by subjecting all data pertaining to the substance to a severe antimemetic corrosion and expungement effect. The access of SCP-5997 to data is not absolute; it appears to be unable to affect sufficiently encrypted information stored in secure data servers. SCP-5997 has been active and operating outside of Foundation knowledge for an unknown, but presumably extensive, period of time.

SCP-5997-1 is an excitatory nootropic agent that creates a mnestic (memory-enhancing) effect in humans when administered and, counterintuitively, displays a Type IV antimemetic trigger inducing directed anterograde amnesia. This consequently prevents subjects not under the effects of Class X or greater mnestics from consciously perceiving any quantity of SCP-5997-1.

SCP-5997-1 is the active ingredient of all Foundation-standard mnestics, and was not known to be anomalous for a significant period of time due to its antimemetic properties affecting all Foundation personnel. Due to the actions of SCP-5997 actively hindering investigations into SCP-5997-1, the two anomalies are likely to be related.

The origin of Foundation supplies of SCP-5997-1 was previously not known; however, investigations performed by the EURYDICE-9 research effort have discovered a repeated anomalous occurrence involving the spontaneous manifestation of SCP-5997-1 samples in random Foundation supply sites worldwide. This occurrence (designated a 5997-DORO event) corresponds with unexplained antimemetic corruption and expungement of security footage from the involved supply sites.

As determined by trial-and-error analysis, live observation of 5997-DORO events by subjects dosed with mnestic drugs allows for the perception of multiple featureless humanoid entities (designated SCP-5997-2 instances), which are observed to enter affected Foundation supply sites and deposit samples of SCP-5997-1.

Instances of SCP-5997-2 carry Type IV antimemetic triggers which induce multiple-target short-term directed anterograde amnesia, resulting in an inability to consciously perceive instances without the use of mnestics. Additionally, SCP-5997-2 instances carry multiple memetic triggers inducing an unconscious compulsion to collect, process and utilize samples of SCP-5997-1, which invariably leads to the rapid integration of all samples into the Foundation supply chain.

Following the cessation of a 5997-DORO event, all involved SCP-5997-2 instances will exit the supply facility and travel to a currently unknown location, hypothesized to be their point of origin. High-speed shutter photography has determined the speed of traveling instances to exceed 8 km/s.

Given the similar method of antimemetic censoring observed, it is highly probable that SCP-5997 or an affiliated entity or group is responsible for 5997-DORO events. Further research into 5997-DORO events and SCP-5997-2 instances is in progress, and is to be considered an extremely high priority due to the ongoing severe security breach represented by SCP-5997’s unimpeded access to Foundation data and operations.

The covert implantation of a GPS tracking module into a select SCP-5997-2 instance in order to monitor its travel following a 5997-DORO event is currently pending.

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5997 is currently thought to be uncontained. The EURYDICE-9 research project is to oversee and coordinate efforts to research, locate, catalog, and contain SCP-5997 if necessary. An automated processing system (APS5997Z24) is to monitor Foundation databases for signs of the effects of SCP-5997 on information, and is to immediately expunge any affected data in order to prevent spread of SCP-5997’s effects. Sensitive data is to be backed up immediately prior to expungement.

All information pertaining to SCP-5997 and SCP-5997-1 is to be heavily encrypted and maintained in secure data storage servers, and several redundant backups are to be similarly encrypted and retained on standby at all times.

The use of SCP-5997-1 in Foundation operations is to continue according to the standard protocols established prior to its classification as a secondary SCP object. The joint EURYDICE-9 mnestics research project is to carry out investigations into SCP-5997-1 and monitor its effects on all Foundation personnel known to be following mnestics usage regimens. All members of the EURYDICE-9 research team are to maintain strict Class X mnestics usage and Marness-Yarrow conditioning regimens at all times.

The occurrence of 5997-DORO events worldwide and the activities of SCP-5997-2 instances are to be monitored and documented by the EURYDICE-9 research project. A provisional research site has been constructed directly adjacent to SCP-5997-3; on-site EURYDICE-9 personnel are to log the appearance and behavior of all observed SCP-5997-2 instances. A security task force is to be stationed 10m from the entrance to SCP-5997-3 at all times, and is to enforce a guarded perimeter around the location. Patrol teams are to bar civilians from approaching within a 30m radius of SCP-5997-3 using the cover story of a recent cave-in rendering the location restricted and hazardous to approach.

Description: SCP-5997 is the provisional designation for an entity or group theorized to be the source of the active ingredient of all Foundation-standard mnestics, designated SCP-5997-1.

SCP-5997 is presumed to be sapient, and actively hinders Foundation investigations into the origins and properties of SCP-5997-1 by subjecting all data pertaining to the substance to a severe antimemetic corrosion and expungement effect. The access of SCP-5997 to data is not absolute; it is unable to affect sufficiently encrypted information stored in secure data servers. SCP-5997 has been active and operating outside of Foundation knowledge for an unknown, but presumably extensive, period of time.

SCP-5997-1 is an excitatory nootropic agent that creates a mnestic (memory-enhancing) effect in humans when administered and, counterintuitively, displays a Type IV antimemetic trigger inducing directed anterograde amnesia. This consequently prevents subjects not under the effects of Class X or greater mnestics from consciously perceiving any quantity of SCP-5997-1.

SCP-5997-1 is the active ingredient of all Foundation-standard mnestics, and was not known to be anomalous for a significant period of time due to its antimemetic properties affecting all Foundation personnel.

The arrival of SCP-5997-2 instances at Foundation supply outposts denotes the occurrence of a 5997-DORO event, during which instances will deposit samples of SCP-5997-1 in several secure cargo holds. The memetic triggers carried by SCP-5997-2 instances invariably result in the rapid integration of all deposited SCP-5997-1 into the Foundation supply chain. The status of SCP-5997-2 instances as sapient is currently unconfirmed.

Following the cessation of a 5997-DORO event, all participating SCP-5997-2 instances will exit the involved supply facility and travel at speeds exceeding 8 km/s to their assumed point of origin, SCP-5997-3. SCP-5997-3 was discovered following the covert implantation of a GPS tracking module into a select SCP-5997-2 instance, and is a cavern located on the north face of Mt. Helicon in Boeotia, Greece. A section of SCP-5997-3 is open to the air and contains a single fissure 315 mm from the mouth of the cave, which is connected to a subterranean freshwater aquifer. The water originating from this aquifer collects in a marble bowl placed nearby and is regularly removed by SCP-5997-2 instances prior to 5997-DORO events. Collected water samples have been found to contain high concentrations of dissolute SCP-5997-1.

The primary section of SCP-5997-3 extends approximately 4.5 m into Mt. Helicon, at which point it descends into an extensive and currently unmapped network of tunnels. SCP-5997-2 instances periodically enter and exit these tunnels. Automated and remotely controlled vehicles consistently break down and fail immediately following entry into any section of SCP-5997-3, preventing unmanned exploration.

The proposal of a manned exploratory mission by MTF Rho-7 (“Tunnel Vision”) into SCP-5997-3 is currently pending. Location and direct containment of SCP-5997 is to be considered an extremely high priority due to the ongoing severe security breach represented by SCP-5997’s unimpeded access to Foundation data and operations.

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-5997 is currently uncontained and is actively and adversely affecting all Foundation data and operations. All remaining members of the EURYDICE-9 research team are to research methods of containing SCP-5997 as quickly as is feasible. Multiple redundant backups are to be created of all data relevant to SCP-5[DATA CORRUPTED]

Multiple redund[DATA CORRUPTED]

Mu[DATA CORRUPTED]

An automated processing system (APS5997Z24) is to monitor Foundation databases for signs of the effe[DATA CORRUPTED]nformation immediately to prevent the spread o[DATA CORRUPTED]

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- LETHAL INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

[DATA CORRUPTED]nestic drugs. All Foundation personnel known to be following mnestics usage regimens are to be brought into custody immediately and amn[DATA CORRUPTED] [DATA CORRUPTED]

[DATA CORRUPTED]

[DATA CORRUPTED]nd all remaining information relevant to SCP-5997 is to be transferred to secure storage in DEEPW[DATA CORRUPTED]

Description: SCP-5997 is the [DATA CORRUPTED]

[DATA CORRUPTED]both physical and digital data, as well as access heavily encrypted information previously thought to be immune to its effects. In light of this alteration to documented behavior, [AUTOMATED REMOVAL- ANTIMEMETIC HAZARD EXPUNGED] reclassification t[DATA CORRUPTED]ctive immediately.

Following the authorization of an expedition into SCP-5997-3 b[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- LETHAL COGNITOHAZARD EXPUNGED]fter entry, communications channels experienced an unexpected failure and could not be reestablished. All participating MTF Rho-7 personnel were discovered within the primary section of SCP-5997-3 six hours later, unconscious, and were found to be suffering from global retrograde amnesia when awakened despite the confirmed presence of mnestic chemicals in their bloodstreams. All information pertaining to the events of the expedition has been sourced from the [AUTOMATED REMOVAL- ANTIMEMETIC HAZARD EXPUNGED]ecorded by the MTF commander R-7/1.

The audio recording and accompanying video were found to contain cognitohazardous and infohazardous content which has since been fully expunged is currently extant and hazardous to view has since been fully expunged is currently partially extant, hazardous to view and evidently impossible to fully expunge. All remaining content iswas previously [DATA CORRUPTED] recorded in a textual log found below, which has since been completely removed from Foundation databases to prevent recurrence of the aforementioned [DATA CORRUPTED] [DATA CORRUPTED] [DATA CORRUPTED]

[BEGIN LOG]

R-7/2: -just stopped working.

R-7/1: Alright, I have the recorder going. We’ll need to bring this out with us, since for some godforsaken reason our mics cut out the moment we went in here.

R-7/3: Fucking antimemes.

R-7/1: Okay, left or right branch?

(R-7/1 lifts the camera and pans across two tunnel entrances.)

R-7/3: Left.

R-7/2: Yeah, left.

R-7/1: Remember, before we go, we have to mark the way back. You have the chalk, 2?

R-7/2: Yep. Let’s get a move on.

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- LETHAL INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

R-7/3: Look at all these dash-two instances.

R-7/2: Man, they’re everywhere. I must have bumped into thirty of them by now. (pauses) Is that bad?

R-7/1: Word from the researchers is that they aren’t hostile, so you’re probably good.

R-7/3: (distortion) -e bring weapons, then?

R-7/1: Just in case they’re wrong.

R-7/3: (laughs) Well, that’s not very reassuring.

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

R-7/2: Surprisingly clean in here. You’d think there would be mildew and whatnot. I haven’t even seen any bats, come to think of it.

R-7/1: None of the water from the aquifer up in the cave makes it down here, so it’s just dry and sterile.

R-7/3: Really? Huh. I could have sworn the fountain’s waters trickled down all through the caverns.

R-7/1: What?

R-7/3: What do you mean, what?

R-7/1: Never mind, I misheard.

R-7/2: Hey, you see these symbols on the walls? Kinda looks like Greek.

(R-7/1 turns the camera to show [AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED].)

R-7/1: Better get the History department on that. I’ll take a few pi- (distortion) -re is pretty.

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

R-7/1: -on’t seem to be getting any closer to anything substantial. This one’s probably a bust.

R-7/3: At least the walls are nice.

R-7/2: Yeah.

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

R-7/1: -t do you mean the markings are wrong?!

R-7/3: This isn’t the right way. We came in through the… the left branch, no, (distortion) right, didn’t we?

R-7/2: Didn’t we go down? Down, into the earth, where the- no, what?

R-7/1: What?

R-7/2: This way. This is the right way.

R-7/1: If you’re sure.

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

R-7/3: -guns? Where the fuck did they go? Did we drop them somewhere?

R-7/2: I don’t-

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

R-7/3: -hopelessly lost! You said this was the right way!

R-7/2: I did? No, I didn’t say that. Did I?

R-7/1: Didn’t say what?

R-7/2: Uh… I forgot.

R-7/3: Forgot what?

R-7/1: Focus up, men. Let’s keep going.

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

R-7/3: The tunnels are getting bigger. More ornate.

R-7/2: It’s beautiful.

R-7/1: I know this isn’t the right way. Why did you say it was?

R-7/2: But I didn’t.

R-7/1: (shouting, heavy distortion) You DID! You told all of us that this was the way we came! There aren’t even any of our markings on the walls anymore. Just those goddamn [AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]. What the hell, 2?!

R-7/2: I… I don’t remember. Why would I say that?

R-7/1: Say what?

R-7/3: Why would you say what?

R-7/2: Something… I don’t know. We have to keep going. We’re almost to the shrine.

R-7/1: The… shrine?

R-7/3: The shrine.

R-7/2: Come on.

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

R-7/1: The dash-twos.. there’s so many more of them now. Why are they going the same way we are?

R-7/2: Worshippers.

R-7/3: Yes.

R-7/2: Almost there.

R-7/1: No, this… this isn’t… we were supposed to be doing something else. What were we doing?

R-7/2: Almost there.

R-7/3: Her.

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

[AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]

(R-7/1 pans the camera in a circle, revealing a large, vaulted space. Doric-design marble columns are placed at the nine corners of the room. A throne confirmed by visual analysis to consist of poplar wood [AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED]. Large areas of the video feed are partially obscured by visual “snow”.)

R-7/3: She’s…

R-7/1: What…

R-7/2: Where… are we?

R-7/1: I don’t know. I think it’s the center.

R-7/2: Why did I bring us here?

R-7/1: It’s the fucking glyphs on the walls. They must [AUTOMATED REMOVAL- INFOHAZARD EXPUNGED] or something. We all just… stumbled down here like zombies. I don’t know why I didn’t realize sooner.

R-7/2: What does she… what does it want?

R-7/3: I… I don’t understand.

R-7/1: She’s… it’s thinking to us, putting its ideas in us. I don’t…

R-7/3: (whimpers)

(Silence)

R-7/1: (shouting) Remember? That’s what you want? But you’re making us forget! Why?!

(Silence)

R-7/1: This isn’t love. This can’t be love. How can you love humanity if you don’t even trust us to know why you’re doing this?

(Silence)

R-7/1: Fuck you. What the hell else are you keeping from us?

R-7/3: Stop, I can’t… it’s too much. It’s… it’s killing… (sobs)

R-7/1: She doesn’t understand that we die. Maybe she does, and she’s doing this anyway. I don’t know. I don’t know what she is.

(R-7/1 abruptly ceases speaking as the video feed cuts out. Thirty seconds pass. All members of Rho-7 scream unintelligibly for approximately one minute before falling silent again. Faint breathing is audible, as well as footsteps and a rapid heartbeat not matching that of a human.)

I don’t have much time. I’m recording this in what’s left of the file they’re keeping in the DEEPWELL server in [DATA CORRUPTED], but it’ll break into here too sooner or later. I dosed myself with the last syringe of Class Z mnestics, so it can’t get to me without killing me outright. We have to know what happened. If anyone out there still remembers, read this while you can.

It was the fucking camcorder log. I don’t know how EURYDICE-9 never figured that out. Or maybe one of them did, and the poor bastard just didn’t get a chance to tell anyone before it got him. Anyway, what that thing said at the end was a low-level infohazard. Just wiped the mind of anyone who read it. Or that was what we thought at first. Thing is, we eventually realized we couldn’t expunge it. It kept remaking itself, and then it started duplicating. Before long, it was spreading. It got into the rest of the database, spammed lethal cognitohazards and infohazards everywhere, wiped the original 5997 file and almost every redundant backup we had. We were frantically expunging left and right, but we just couldn’t keep up with the thing. When it made the jump to our paper records, that was the end. Too many people saw them. She reached into their minds, made them hers and turned them against us.

EURYDICE-9 is almost gone now. They’ve just been losing people, one by one. Some kind of acute antimemetic contamination, I think, making sure nothing they do will ever have an effect on the world again. The Class Z is the only reason I can even remember any of that, and not even it will let me see them anymore. Everyone else is forgetting. And I mean everyone. The entire Foundation. We’re all forgetting her, everything to do with her, and it’s exactly what she wants. [DATA CORRUPTED]eally gave us mnestics because she wanted us to remember, why did it have to end like this? Why does she have to make us forget again? Are we not even allowed to remember why?

No. No, no, no. Fuck this, fuck her. I'm [DATA CORRUPTED] this stand. No one is allowed to play with humanity's minds like this. Mysteries are meant to be solved, not to be left alone forever and forgotten. Someone, somewhere, sometime, is going to read this, and they'll figure it out. I'll make sure of it. I’ll break the cycle. Οι αναμνήσεις δεν πεθαίνουν ποτέ. Οι αναμνήσεις δεν πεθαίνουν ποτέ. They're almost in, but they won't get to this document. I won't let them.

Special Containment Procedures: The actions of Field Agent Theodore Ferndale in the line of duty have enabled a set of theoretical containment procedures to be devised. SCP-5997 is considered self-containing provided all Foundation personnel follow the detailed procedures. Further information beyond these procedures is restricted to personnel carrying Level 4/5997 clearance.

Investigation into the active ingredient, properties, history and origins of mnestic drugs is not to be carried out, so as to maintain the docile state of SCP-5997. The recently formed EURYDICE-9 mnestics research effort has been summarily disbanded and all participating personnel have been reassigned to separate sites. The use of SCP-5997-1 in Foundation operations is to continue according to the standard protocols established prior to its classification as a secondary SCP object. An automated processing system (APS5997A42) is to passively monitor Foundation databases for signs of the effects of SCP-5997 and alert all personnel carrying 4/5997 clearance in the event that signs are observed. Foundation databases are currently entirely unaffected by SCP-5997.

Further investigation into the nature and motivations of SCP-5997 is forbidden.

Description: SCP-5997 is a sapient essophysical entity responsible for the production and distribution of SCP-5997-1, the active ingredient of all Foundation-standard mnestics. SCP-5997 possesses reality-altering memetic and antimemetic abilities of uncertain scope, and is theorized to be motivated by a desire to render humanity at large ignorant to its own existence while simultaneously providing humanity a method of perceiving and responding to antimemetic anomalies in the form of SCP-5997-1.

The existence of SCP-5997 was ascertained following the discovery of a decomposing human cadaver within the DEEPWELL server vault in Site-74. Cause of death was found to be total cerebral liquefaction. Credentials found on the cadaver identified it as a Field Agent Theodore Ferndale. Of note is that there was no individual named Theodore Ferndale in employment as a field agent at that time, and database inspection did not uncover any records of such an individual ever working for the Foundation. The cadaver was found to be carrying a computer hard drive, evidently physically removed from a DEEPWELL server block, which contained all above data on SCP-5997. Current containment procedures were adopted shortly following extraction, decryption and verification of the data as true.

The reasoning behind the contradictory motivations of SCP-5997 is uncertain. Further investigation into the matter has been deemed impractical due to the documented tendency of SCP-5997 to become aggravated when directly confronted. It is theorized that the Foundation has discovered the existence of SCP-5997 one or more times previously, and that improper conduct has resulted in the repeated erasure of all memory of these discoveries by SCP-5997. It is therefore considered to be imperative that the ultimate nature and goals of SCP-5997 remain unknown.

Notice from O5 Council

There are those who have criticized the decision to halt investigations into the motivations of SCP-5997, citing our policies against unnecessary concessions to anomalies. It must be said that these measures are entirely necessary. As an essophysical entity, SCP-5997 exerts a phenomenal effect on our universe merely by existing; furthermore, it is clearly temperamental, difficult to communicate with, and documented to respond poorly to both investigative attempts and negotiation efforts. Therefore, the only alternative to our current containment procedures is neutralization- and beyond being near-completely unworkable, the termination of an essophysical entity would have grave and far-reaching repercussions.

Whether SCP-5997 is truly acting in the best interests of humanity, or even if it believes itself to be doing so, is uncertain. All that is known is that we have narrowly freed ourselves from a cycle of memory and forgetting that may well have repeated for as long as our Foundation has existed, or even before it. Our tenuous, limited hold on comprehension of SCP-5997's existence in spite of this is too precious to risk losing, and it would be all too easy for SCP-5997 to discover our knowledge of it, wipe it away once more, and render our containment efforts null and void. The actions of Agent Ferndale were certainly honorable, and he performed the ultimate sacrifice to allow us this information, but in one crucial aspect he was quite wrong: some mysteries are better left unsolved.